罗马书研究六
罗4章续：亚伯拉-------进一步例证福音
在罗马书第四章，我们简要谈到了信心，就以撒的出生，亚伯拉罕和撒拉一生的故事，提供了一个因信称义的实例。
In the fourth chapter of the book of Romans we have faith in a concrete form. The narrative of the lives of Abraham and Sarai in connection with the birth of Isaac furnish a practical example of justification by faith.
亚伯拦罕不是靠行为称义。但他相信上帝，他就被看为义，他接受了割礼的印记。为什么呢?要使他信吗?断然不是，而是因他已经信了，这是他因信已得的印记，给亚伯拉罕和他扣裔的应许是，他必要承受这世界，这应许中将要承受的要作为永远的产业，创17：8。因些这是义的约，以义的印记为记号，这将要承受的产业成为义的产业，除了义人，没有能承受的，彼后3：13
Abraham was not justified by works, but he believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Abraham received the seal of circumcision. Why? To cause him to believe? No, but because he had believed. It was a seal of the righteousness which he had by believing. The promise to Abraham and to his seed was that he should be heir of the world. This promised inheritance was to be for an "everlasting possession." Genesis 17:8. Therefore it was a covenant of righteousness, sealed by a seal of righteousness, and the inheritance was to be a righteous inheritance, which none but the righteous can gain. 2 Peter 3:13.
我们如此的罪孽深重，上帝如何能赐我们义呢？我们不能明白其中的道理，也不必发问。上帝使不义的人成为义人，其神迹之大，犹如他造这世界一样。一件原来不存在的事，人要是称他为存在的，他口中的话就使他存在。上帝不但使我们没有义的心成为义的，而且不止这样，还要使我们除了不义什么也没有的心，成为义的。
How can God give us righteousness when we are so sinful? We cannot understand how nor do we need to inquire. It is just as great a miracle for God to make an unrighteous man righteous as it was for Him to create the world. If a man calls a thing which is not as though it were, he tells a falsehood; but when God calls a thing which is not as though it were, the very fact of His calling it makes it so. God not only makes our hearts righteous, when there is no righteousness there but He does more than that; He makes our hearts righteous, when there is nothing there but unrighteousness.
不相信上帝所出的话使义居住在他心中，这人就如同一个用进化论废弃摩西的创世记载一样，上帝的能力是没有限量的。假如有一座大山，宣称与上帝作对，他不需作什么，就能使这山变为粉沫。
A man is just as much an infidel who does not believe that God can speak righteousness into his heart as a man who, by the theory of evolution, does away with the Mosaic record of creation. No limit can be put upon the power of God. If there were a huge mountain, which was to set itself up against the power of God, He could take nothing and break that mountain all to pieces.
“弟兄们，我们是凭着应许作儿女的，如同以撒一样。”我们得以成为上帝的儿女，和以撒的降生一样，是本乎信，因着亚伯拉罕和撒拉的信。“唯有不做工的，只信称罪人为义的上帝，他的信就算为义。”这是给他的应许。
"We brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise." We get to be the children of God in the same way as Isaac was born--by believing, as Abraham and Sarai believed. The promise is to him "that worketh not but believeth on Him, who justifieth the ungodly."
在亚伯拉罕乐意献上儿子的这事中，包含了许多的内容。承受产业的应许不能靠着其他的儿子实现。若不藉着以撒，基督不能降世，失去了以撒，哪有救主降世的盼望？全然没有；显然亚伯拉罕将失去自己得救的盼望。
There was much implied in the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Through no other son could the promise of the inheritance come. Christ could not come into the world except through Isaac. Cut off Isaac and what hope of a Saviour? None. Abraham to all appearances would cut off all hope of his own salvation.
这里显出了奇妙的信心。亚伯拉罕相信上帝会使以撒复活，然而藉着他的能力使以撒能复活的那位（基督）还没有来到，除非藉着以撒就不会来到，上帝却已经应允，亚伯拉罕就相信，虽然他蒙召作的这件事在人看来，甚至会失去应允的盼望。
Wonderful is the faith here exhibited. Abraham believed that God could raise Isaac up again and yet, the very one (Christ) through whose power he believed Isaac would be raised up, had not come and could not come except through Isaac. Nevertheless God had promised and Abraham believed, although he was called upon to do that very thing which to human sight would cut off all hope of ever having the promise fulfilled.
这个应许本身是不变的，不变的应许藉誓约得到坚定。因此，上帝对所有要求履行的应许，有义务实践，上帝不这样作就是否认自己。
The promise itself was immutable, and that immutable promise was confirmed by an immutable oath. Therefore God is under obligation to fulfil His promises to all who claim them. the very throne and existence of God are pledged to this, and not to do it would be for God to deny Himself.
以后，上帝要来到并说：“召聚我的圣民到我这里来，就是那些以祭物与我立约的人。”基督就是此处论到的祭物，我们藉着他而来，他是这誓约的担保人。
By and by, God will come and say, "Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." Christ is the sacrifice here referred to. It is through Him we come. He is the surety of the covenant.
给亚伯拉罕的应许，仰赖于一件事，他得有一个儿子。自从应许发出直到实现，经过了25年。亚伯拉罕仰望上帝的应许，总没有越疑惑，撒莱却怀疑，且“亚伯兰听从了撒莱的话”。她着手帮助上帝完成计划。但夏甲是奴隶，她的孩子只能是奴隶，是从肉体生的。
The promise to Abraham depended upon one thing--his having a son. Twenty-five years elapsed from the time the promise was made until it was fulfilled. "Abraham staggered not at the promise of God," but Sarai did, and Abraham hearkened unto the voice of Sarai." She undertook to help the Lord to carry out His plan. But Hagar was a slave, and her child could be nothing but a slave, born after the flesh.
应许给亚伯拉罕的后裔是自主的，不是为奴的，因此撒莱的这个计划要落空。最后撒莱认识到她唯一能作的就是相信，没有人的帮助，上帝能够实现他的应许，后来“因着信，”她“还能怀孕”。以撒的出生是一个神迹。在人看来，亚伯拉罕和撒莱完全不可能生育，她是藉着上帝的能力怀孕的。
The seed promised Abraham were to be free men, not slaves, therefore nothing was gained by this plan of Sarai's. The time came when Sarai realised that the only thing for her to do was to believe that God was able to carry out His promise without her help. Then, "through faith" she "received strength to conceive seed." The birth of Isaac was a miracle. From a human standpoint it was utterly impossible for Abraham and Sarai to become the parents of a child. She conceived by the power of God.
亚伯拉罕没有做什么好得到应许的，只有信；且这应许中的孩子是他们自己的孩子。在基督徒也同样如此。不能做什么事好得着基督的义，除了单单信其应许。尽力得差基督的义是错误的。经上告诉我们要相信这些应许。上帝已应许要使我们成为义。成为义的唯一办法就是相信上帝能够将义加我们。
Abraham and Sarai did nothing to gain the promise, except to believe, and yet the child of the promise was their own child. So with Christians. Nothing can be done to gain the righteousness of Christ, save only to believe the promises. It is wrong to put forth efforts to secure the righteousness of Christ. We are told to believe the promises. God has promised to make us righteous, and the only way to obtain that righteousness is to believe that God is able to input it.
当人们愿意相信上帝，并顺从他时，在他的从应许中就有能力替他们努力获得他们的义，丝毫不用自己的力量。人是怎样成为义的，或是人们是怎样与上帝的性情有分的？“因此他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与上帝的性情有分。”这能力在上帝的应许之中。怎样能使这些应许在我们身上生效呢？藉着相信应许。“我们若认自己的罪，上帝是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。”承认自己的罪；这应许是给你的，你的罪就得赦了。
When men are content to believe God and submit themselves to Him, there is power in His promises to work out their righteousness for them, without any power of their own. How are men made righteous, or partakers of the divine nature? "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakes of the divine nature." The power lies in the promise of God. How can we make the promises effectual to us? By believing them. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Confess your sins, believe that God forgives them as He has promised, and the promise is yours, your sins are forgiven.
上帝的应许可用比喻为期票（由出票人书面承诺即期或在将来某一日期向持票人付款的一种信用票据）。有多少人可以持有这些期票？“凡愿意的。”他们可支取一定量的福气。其总额决不会被全部付完，因为上帝能“充充足足的成就一切超过我们所求所想的。”人拿着期票到银行，用它换金子。基督徒拿着上帝给我们的众应许，用它他总换福气。The promises of God may be likened to "promissory notes." How many may have these notes? "Whosoever will." They are good for a certain amount of blessing. That amount can never be drawn in full, because God is able "to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think." Men take a promissory note to the bank and get the gold on it. Christians take the promises of God to Him and cash them for a blessing.